Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has ordered Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu to discipline officials involved in the abuse of motor vehicle services and petrol cards in the province.

The officials, who work for the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, were caught at the Thembisile Hani Costs Centre in the Nkangala region. 

This followed an anonymous whistle-blower’s formal complaint to the Office of the Public Protector in 2021, alleging that several officials, including Thembi Mthombeni, Vusi Mahlangu, Maroko Matome, and Johannes Makinata, abused departmental petrol cards at a garage in Tweefontein.

The four would use the official petrol cards of the department to buy fuel for R200 at the time, and would then use the cards to pay an amount equivalent to a full tank and take the difference.  

The matter was reported to the assistant transport officer, Billy Mokhoalane, who failed to take action against the four. 

According to the Public Protector, the four purchased 161 litres of petrol at a total cost of R10,862.38.

The report stated that when these transactions took place, 161 litres of petrol cost R3,463.57, leaving a total amount of R7,398.81 unaccounted for.

“The allegation of multiple instances of maladministration was substantiated, including petrol card abuse, resulting in R7,398.81 unaccounted for from 161 litres overcharged at R10,862.38,” read the report. 

It stated that the officials failed to ensure the efficient, economical, and effective use of the department’s resources and failed to prevent losses from suspected criminal conduct. 

The report also found that the officials failed to attach fuel receipts to their trip authorities when handing over their vehicles at the end of the day. 

The four also failed to explain the reasons for non-submissions. 

Gcaleka said the head of department, Charles Morolo, as the accounting officer, failed to appoint the transport officer to properly investigate the alleged abuse of petrol cards when the allegations were raised with him by her office.

This conduct, according to Gcaleka, violates Clause 9.1.6 of Section E of the Handbook and Section 45 of the PFMA by failing to establish the system of financial management and internal control within his area of responsibility.

“The conduct of Mr Morolo accordingly constitutes improper conduct as envisaged in Section 182(1)(a) of the Constitution and maladministration in terms of Section 6(4)(a)(i) of the Public Protector Act,” read the report. 

The investigation also found that there were vehicle repairs at private garages without invoices and approvals. 

The report found that a total amount of R285,112.50 was paid to private garages in the absence of Wesbank authorities, and the reasons deviate from the government garage. 

“The department failed to furnish the Public Protector with job cards to prove that the frequency of the bookings for repairs and services was justified or necessary,” the report stated. 

“Mr Mokholoane failed to ensure completion of the required records, to monitor such, to exercise control over maintenance, to minimise running costs of the fleet, and to ensure the proper monitoring of the reports submitted to him monthly to identify, confirm, and report cases of possible fraud and misuse.”

The report recommended that Ndlovu must take appropriate disciplinary steps against the four officials for the abuse of petrol cards, resulting in financial loss to the department.

The Public Protector also suggested that the premier must ensure that a permanent transport officer is appointed, and that the job profile of the officer is aligned with the provisions of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government Motor Transport Handbook. 

She also recommended that appropriate steps be taken against Morolo for failure to appoint the transport officer to properly investigate the alleged abuse of petrol cards by the functionaries of the Thembisile Hani Cost Centre. 

The report also added that officials who failed to follow due process and procedures when utilising and booking official vehicles for services and repairs at private garages and merchants, including Mokhoalane, should be disciplined.

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za

Source link